Editing Method and Recording and Reproducing Device

ABSTRACT

In order to provide a recording and reproducing device that allows a user to select and manage arbitrary play lists, a unit of management for managing all registered play list information and an upper management hierarchical level are added. The unit of management is adapted to be handled on the same level with unified information that indicates a reproduction range of all AV data. User-defined unified information is adapted to be handled on the added management hierarchical level. The user-defined unified information is formed to allow arbitrary reproduction ranges contained on a lower hierarchical level to be registered.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/567,898,filed on Sep. 28, 2009 (the entire disclosure of which is incorporatedherein by reference for all purposes), which is a continuation of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 11/203,457, filed on Aug. 11, 2005 (theentire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference for allpurposes), which application claims priority from Japanese PatentApplication Nos. JP2004-349264, filed Dec. 2, 2004, JP2004-378767, filedDec. 28, 2004, and JP2004-378768, filed on Dec. 28, 2004, the entiredisclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference for allpurposes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a recording and reproducing devicewhich records data onto a recording medium and reproduces data from therecording medium.

2. Description of the Related Art

As the high-efficiency coding technique advances, it has become possibleto handle AV data such as video data and audio data as digital data,conduct code rate compression, and record resultant data on alarge-capacity recording medium such as a hard disk or a recording typeoptical disk in real time. When digital data already compressed in coderate is inputted to a recording and reproducing device having such arecording medium from outside by broadcasting or communication, it isalso possible to record the digital data on the recording medium intact.

In these recording and reproducing devices, management information formanaging digital data to be recorded is generated and recorded togetheronto the same recording medium. When a rewritable recording medium isused, the user can conduct editing work on the recording and reproducingdevice by rewriting the management information and generating andmanipulating a list indicating the reproduction sequence (hereafterreferred to as play list) (see, for example, JP-A-2000-152180).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In the above-described conventional technique, it is mentioned that theplay list indicates the reproduction sequence by linking portions of AVdata together. As an example, a management state of AV data on arecording medium in the above-described conventional technique is shownin FIG. 2.

Reference numeral 201 designates AV data themselves on the recordingmedium. The case where a program #1 to a program #3 are present asrecording units is shown. Reference numeral 202 designates a secondmanagement hierarchical level (management level 2) in managementinformation. Original cell information #1 to original cell information#3 indicate the whole reproduction range of program units, i.e., aprogram #1 to a program #3, respectively. Each of user-defined cellinformation #1 to user-defined information #2 indicates a reproductionrange of the whole or a part of a program arbitrarily specified by theuser. The number of the user-defined cell information #1 to user-definedinformation #2 is increased or decreased by the user's editingmanipulation. Reference numeral 203 designates a first managementhierarchical level (management level 1). Program information containsall of the original cell information #1 to original cell information #3.By conducting reproduction on the basis of the program set information,the user can reproduce all AV data recorded on the recording medium.Play list information #1 to play list information #k indicate areproduction sequence of the user-defined cell information arbitrarilyspecified by the user. It is possible to have a plurality ofreproduction sequences. Inside of a frame 204 becomes originalinformation for managing the whole AV data in the managementinformation. Inside of a frame 205 becomes user-defined information formanaging the play list obtained by the user's editing manipulation.

In FIG. 2, the play list information is placed on the same level withthe program set information and managed as the management level 1.Therefore, the sequence of a plurality of play list information piecesthemselves is determined uniquely. For example, as for a catalog of theplay lists, it is impossible on the user's interface to alter thedisplay sequence. In view of the problem, the present invention has beenachieved. An object of the present invention is to provide a recordingscheme and device in which the user can conduct manipulation ofarbitrarily rearranging the display sequence of the play lists in theplay list catalog on the user interface.

Furthermore, in the conventional technique example, attention is notpaid to that a plurality of users generate, select and manage favoriteplay list information. For example, even when a plurality of usersdesire to generate, select and manage respective favorite play listinformation pieces, it cannot be implemented. Furthermore, attention isnot especially paid to that a user select some arbitrary play lists fromamong a plurality of play lists and manage them.

In view of these problems, the present invention has been achieved. Anobject of the present invention is to provide a recording andreproducing device in which the user can select and manage arbitraryplay lists.

In order to achieve the objects, in accordance with the presentinvention, a unit of management for managing all registered play listinformation and an upper management hierarchical level are added. Theunit of management is adapted to be handled on the same level withunified information that indicates a reproduction range of all AV data.User-defined unified information is adapted to be handled on the addedmanagement hierarchical level. The user-defined unified information isformed to allow arbitrary reproduction ranges contained on a lowerhierarchical level to be registered.

In a recording and reproducing device according to the presentinvention, it becomes possible for the user to select arbitrary playlists or reproduction ranges and conduct management. Even in the casewhere a plurality of users share a single recording medium, therefore,each user can manage favorite reproduction contents, resulting inimproved usage. Since the play lists are subject to unified management,it becomes possible for the user to arbitrarily alter the displaysequence of play lists.

According to the present invention, a recording and reproducing deviceimproved in usage can be provided.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will becomeapparent from the following description of the embodiments of theinvention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a management state of AV data in a recording andreproducing device according to an embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 2 shows a management state of AV data in a conventional techniqueexample;

FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of a recording and reproducing deviceaccording to an embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 4 shows a display output example of original unified information;

FIG. 5 shows a display output example of play list unified information;

FIG. 6 shows a first output example of user-defined unified information;

FIG. 7 shows a second output example of user-defined unifiedinformation;

FIG. 8 shows an example of a file structure of original unifiedinformation, play list unified information, user-defined unifiedinformation, play list information, program information, and AV data(program);

FIG. 9 shows an example of a management table structure of originalunified information, play list unified information, and user-definedunified information;

FIG. 10 shows an example of a management table of play list information;

FIG. 11 shows an example of a management table of program listinformation;

FIG. 12 shows a display output example of play list unified information;and

FIG. 13 shows an example of a table indicating contents of user-definedinformation #m.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Hereafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described withreference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a management state of AV data ona recording medium in a recording and reproducing device according tothe present invention. In the same way as the reference numeral 201 inFIG. 2, reference numeral 101 designates AV data themselves on therecording medium. The case where programs #1 to #3 are present asrecording units is shown.

Reference numeral 102 corresponds to 202 in FIG. 2. However, referencenumeral 102 designates a third management hierarchical level (managementlevel 3) in management information. Program information #1 to programinformation #3 indicate the whole reproduction ranges of program units,i.e., program #1 to program #3, respectively. Each of programinformation #2a to program information #3a indicates a reproductionrange of the whole or a part of a program arbitrarily specified by theuser. The program information #2a to program information #3a indicate apart of the program #2 and a part of the program #3, respectively. Inplaces corresponding to the program information #1 to programinformation #3, information is also added, as AV data is added, i.e.,with an increase in programs. In places corresponding to the programinformation #2a to the program information #3a, the number ofinformation pieces increases or decreases due to the editingmanipulation of the user.

Reference numeral 103 corresponds to the management level 1 in FIG. 2.However, numeral 103 designates a second management hierarchical level(management level 2), which includes only play list information #1 toplay list information #n. Each play list information indicates areproduction sequence of arbitrary program information pieces on themanagement level 3. It is possible to have a plurality of reproductionsequences.

Reference numeral 104 designates a newly added first managementhierarchical level (management level 1) in the management information asa feature point of the present invention. The management level 1includes a plurality of unified information pieces. Original unifiedinformation corresponds to the program set information shown in FIG. 2.The original unified information contains all of the program information#1 to program information #3 on the management level 3. By conductingreproduction on the basis of all of the program information #1 toprogram information #3, it becomes possible for the user to reproduceall AV data recorded on the recording medium. Play list unifiedinformation contains all of the play list information #1 to play listinformation #n on the management level 2. By conducting reproduction onthe basis of all of the play list information #1 to play listinformation #n on the management level 2, it becomes possible for theuser to successively reproduce all registered play lists. User-definedunified information #1 to user-defined unified information #m containarbitrary one or more from among play list information pieces on themanagement level 2 and program information pieces on the managementlevel 3. For example, when a plurality of users use a single recordingmedium, it becomes possible to manage reproduced contents that meetrespective users' tastes by using one user-defined unified informationevery user.

An embodiment of a recording and reproducing device according to thepresent invention will be described more specifically by using anotherdrawing.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of a recording andreproducing device according to the present invention. A recording andreproducing device capable of receiving digital broadcast, recording thedigital broadcast on a recording medium, reproducing recorded data, andobtaining a reproduced output is shown. Reference numeral 300 designatesa recording and reproducing device, 301 an input terminal supplied witha received wave from an antenna, 3011 an input terminal supplied withcompressed video and audio data from another device, 3012 an analogvideo input terminal supplied with an analog video signal, 3013 ananalog audio input terminal supplied with an analog audio inputterminal, 333 and 334 analog/digital (A/D) conversion circuits each ofwhich converts an analog signal to a digital signal, 302 a demodulationcircuit, 330 a separation circuit which separates the demodulateddigital signal into audio, video and other data, 335 a compressioncircuit which compresses digitized video and audio signals, 303 arecording unit signal processing circuit, 331 an encryption circuitwhich encrypts data to be recorded, 304 a recording and reproducing unitincluding a drive function of a recording medium, 305 a recordingmedium, 332 a decryption circuit which decrypts data encrypted andrecorded on the recording medium, 306 a reproducing unit signalprocessing circuit, 307 a switchover circuit, 308 a separation circuit,309 a video decoding circuit, 310 a digital/analog (D/A) conversioncircuit, 311 a video output terminal, 312 an audio decoding circuit, 313a D/A conversion circuit, 314 an audio output terminal, 315 a TV set,316 a user I/F, 317 a control unit, 318 a system bus, 319 an OSDgeneration unit, and 320 an addition circuit.

At the time of recording, a signal transmitted by digital broadcast orthe like and received is demodulated in the demodulation circuit 302 byusing a predetermined scheme, subjected to necessary signal processingsuch as timing adjusting data addition and modulation in the recordingunit signal processing circuit 303, encrypted in the encryption circuit331, and then recorded on the recording medium 305 by the recording andreproducing unit 304. A digital signal input from the digital inputterminal 3011 is subjected to necessary signal processing such as timingadjusting data addition and modulation in the recording unit signalprocessing circuit 303, encrypted in the encryption circuit 331, andthen recorded on the recording medium 305 by the recording andreproducing unit 304. An analog video signal input from the analog videoinput terminal 3012 and an analog audio signal input from the analogaudio input terminal 3013 are subjected to compression processing in thecompression circuit 335, encrypted in the encryption circuit 331 via therecording unit signal processing circuit 303, and then recorded on therecording medium 305 by the recording and reproducing unit 304.

At the time of reproducing, encrypted digital data read out from therecording medium 305 via the recording and reproducing unit 304 inaccordance with the user's order is decrypted in the decryption circuit332, subjected to signal processing required for reproduction such asdemodulation in a form based on a predetermined modulation scheme in thereproducing unit signal processing circuit 103, and sent to theseparation circuit 308 via the switchover circuit 307. Resultant videodigital data is subjected to predetermined video decoding processing inthe video decoding circuit 309, converted to an analog signal in the D/Aconversion circuit 310, and then displayed as a monitor output on the TVset 315 via the video output terminal 311. Audio digital data obtainedfrom the separation circuit 308 is subjected to predetermined audiodecoding processing in the audio decoding circuit 312, converted to ananalog signal in the D/A conversion circuit 313, and then outputted byan audio output mechanism in the TV set 315 via the audio outputterminal 314.

The control unit 317 controls various components in the recording andreproducing device 300 via the system bus 318. Furthermore, the controlunit 317 controls the whole device to cause operation based on theuser's order input which is inputted via the user I/F 316 to beconducted. By the way, an order input request to the user or necessaryOSD display for the user is implemented by preparing it in the OSDgeneration unit 319, adding it to an output of the video decodingcircuit 309 on a suitable level, and finally outputting it to a monitorscreen on the TV set 315.

The case where each unified information on the management level 1 isused for menu display of recording data will now be described as aspecific use example of the management information configuration in FIG.1.

FIG. 4 shows an example in which menu display is conducted by using theoriginal unified information shown in FIG. 1. Reference numeral 315designates the TV set shown in FIG. 3, 401 a tag for displaying allprograms, 402 a thumbnail indicating program information #1, 403 athumbnail indicating program information #2, and 404 a thumbnailindicating program information #3. The user moves a cursor position onthe screen to a desired thumbnail and conducts selection anddetermination by using a remote controller or the like. As a result, theuser can reproduce arbitrary programs or all programs.

FIG. 5 shows an example in which menu display is conducted by using theplay list unified information shown in FIG. 1. Reference numeral 501designates a tag for displaying all play lists, 502 a thumbnailindicating play list information #1, and 503 a thumbnail indicating playlist information #2. In the same way as the above-described case, theuser moves a cursor position on the screen to a desired thumbnail andconducts selection and determination by using a remote controller or thelike. As a result, the user can reproduce arbitrary play lists or allplay lists. By the way, display switching from the all program displaytag 401 to all play list display tag can be implemented by, for example,movement of the cursor in tag character positions conducted by the user.

FIG. 6 shows an example in which menu display is conducted by using theuser-defined unified information #1 shown in FIG. 1. Reference numeral601 designates a menu display tag for user #1 (who is supposed to be“mother” here). As appreciated from FIG. 1, reference numerals 402 and502 designate thumbnails indicating the program information #1 and theplay list information #1, respectively. The “mother” can use the menudisplay tag for mother 601 as a folder dedicated to herself, and freelyregister and delete data to be reproduced. In the same way, FIG. 7 showsan example in which menu display is conducted by using the user-definedunified information #2 shown in FIG. 1. Reference numeral 701 designatesa menu display tag for user #2 (who is supposed to be “father” here). Asappreciated from FIG. 1, reference numerals 503 and 502 designatethumbnails indicating the play list information #2 and the play listinformation #1, respectively. In this case, the “father” selects twoplay lists. However, the reproduction sequence of them can be altered.In the same way as the “mother,” the “father” can use the menu displaytag for father 701 as a folder dedicated to himself, and freely registerand delete data to be reproduced.

As heretofore described, in the embodiment of the present invention, aunit of management for managing all registered play list information andan upper management hierarchical level are added. The unit of managementis adapted to be handled on the same level with unified information thatindicates a reproduction range of all AV data. User-defined unifiedinformation is adapted to be handled on the added managementhierarchical level. The user-defined unified information is formed toallow arbitrary reproduction ranges contained on a lower hierarchicallevel to be registered therein. As a result, it becomes possible for theuser to select arbitrary play lists or reproduction ranges and conductmanagement. Even in the case where a plurality of users share a singlerecording medium, therefore, each user can manage favorite reproductioncontents, resulting in improved usage.

In the embodiment heretofore described, the case where digital broadcastis received and digital data is recorded intact has been described.However, this is not restrictive. A configuration having a network I/Fto acquire AV data from an external network or having coding unit toconduct recording onto the recording medium while coding analog data mayalso be used. In other words, the present embodiment refers to datamanagement on the recording medium, and its input route is notespecially restricted.

FIG. 8 shows an example of file configurations used to actually recordthe program, program information, play list information, originalunified information, play list unified information, and user-definedinformation on the recording medium 305 (FIG. 3). The recording mediumis a medium on which digital recording and reproducing are conducted.Files on the medium are managed by a file system similar to that used tomanage a recording medium in the so-called personal computer or thelike. In FIG. 8, “ROOT” 800 represents a highest hierarchical level of afile directory. “TV_REC” 801 is a directory under the highesthierarchical level. “TVREC.MAN” 802, “PGRG.IFO” 803, “PGR.IFO” 804,“PROG0001.TS” 805, . . . of files which implement the managementstructure shown in FIG. 1 according to the present invention arerecorded in the “TV_REC” 801. In the “TVREC.MAN” 802, the originalunified information, the play list unified information, and theuser-defined unified information #1 to #m on the management level 1shown in FIG. 1 are described as management tables. In the “PGRG.IFO”803, the play list information #1 to the play list information #n on themanagement level 2 shown in FIG. 1 are recorded as management tables. Inthe “PGR.IFO” 804, the program information #1 to the program information#3a on the management level 3 shown in FIG. 1 are recorded as managementtables. “PROG0001.TS” 805, “PROG0002.TS” 806 and “PROG0003.TS” 807 areentity files of AV data in each program. For example, AV data betweenrecording start and recording end of one time is recorded in the“PROG0001.TS.” AV data between recording start and recording end of thenext time is recorded in the “PROG0002.TS.” In this way, the file nameis updated and recording is conducted. Thereafter, the management files802 to 804 are updated.

The file structure and the configuration of management tables themselvesconcerning the management structure “TVREC.MAN” 802, “PGRG.IFO” 803,“PGR.IFO” 804, “PROG0001.TS” 805, . . . of files may be formed by usingany method. However, an example of how to implement the managementconfiguration in the case of FIG. 1 using the files will now bedescribed.

FIG. 9 shows a configuration of management tables of the “TVREC.MAN” 802(FIG. 8). As original unified information 901, the number of AV datarecorded as the number of program information pieces 9011, i.e., thetotal number (three in this case) of entity files (“PROG0001.TS” 805,“PROG0002.TS” 806 and “PROG0003.TS” 807) of the AV data is described.Under the original unified information 901, location tables 9012 ofrespective original program information pieces are recorded. As playlist unified information 902, play list location information tables arerecorded in 9021 and subsequent tables. In 9031, the number ofuser-defined unified information pieces is recorded. After that,contents of #1 to #m of the user-defined information are recorded.

FIG. 13 shows contents of the user-defined information #m describedabove. The user-defines information #m has combinations of originalprogram information and play list information as a table.

FIG. 10 shows a management table of the “PGRG.IFO” 803 (FIG. 8), whichcorresponds to the management level 2 shown in FIG. 1. As play listinformation 1001, the total number of the play list information piecesis first described as designated by 10011. (In this case, the totalnumber of the play list information pieces is n.) Beginning with 10012indicated under the reference numeral 10011, locations in which contentsof the play list information #1 to #n are described are recorded astables. Beginning with 10013, contents of the play list information #1to #n (contents of the reproduction sequence, which are managementtables having combinations of program information indicating thereproduction start location and reproduction end location of AV datadescribed later) are recorded.

FIG. 11 shows a management table of the “PGR.IFO” 804 (FIG. 8), whichcorresponds to the management level 3 shown in FIG. 1. As programinformation 1101, the total number of the program information piecesincluding all of the program information pieces paired with the originalinformation program #1, #2 and #3 (FIG. 1) and the user-defined programinformation #2a and #3a (FIG. 1) is recorded as designated by 11011.Beginning with 11012 indicated under the reference numeral 11011, tablesindicating locations in which contents of the program information #1 to#3a are described are recorded. Beginning with 11013, contents of theprogram information #1 to #3a (describing the reproduction startlocation and reproduction end location of the “PROG0001.TS” 805,“PROG0002.TS” 806 and “PROG0003.TS” 807 (FIG. 8)) are recorded.

By conducting the management as heretofore described, it becomespossible to sort the location information, for example, in the play listlocation table 9021 and alter the sequence of displaying play lists on aGUI view from the state shown in FIG. 5 to the state shown in FIG. 12.In the case where the number of play lists has become very large, a playlist that is high in user's use frequency can be displayed in the firstplace in the GUI view. As a result, it is possible to implement a usablerecording and reproducing device, reproducing device, or recordingmethod. For example, a plurality of users can set play lists that theywant to view and recorded original contents freely and individually.Even when the number of recorded programs is very large, the user canrapidly find out a program that the user wants to view, because the usercan refer to a folder defined by the user.

In the present embodiment, a clear distinction is made between theuser-defined play list unified information and the user-defined unifiedinformation #1 to #m. The user-defined play list unified information maybe defined as user-defined play list unified information having no linkto the original program information of the user-defined unifiedinformation.

It should be further understood by those skilled in the art thatalthough the foregoing description has been made on embodiments of theinvention, the invention is not limited thereto and various changes andmodifications may be made without departing from the spirit of theinvention and the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An information processing apparatus forreproducing selected video information from among a plurality of videoinformation stored in a recording medium which is usable by a pluralityof users, the apparatus comprising: an output means for outputting amenu display for a user to select desired video information to bereproduced from among the plurality of video information in therecording medium; and a reproducing means for reproducing the selectedvideo information from the recording medium, wherein a first area and asecond area are displayed within the menu display, wherein the firstarea is configured to display at least first tags associated with videoinformation or play list information for a first user and second tagsassociated with video information or play list information for a seconduser different from the first user, and wherein the second area isconfigured to display a thumbnail specifying arbitrary video informationfrom among the plurality of video information or a plurality of playlist information, when one of the first tags shown in the first area isselected, the video information or the thumbnail of the playlistinformation associated with the selected tag is displayed in the secondarea, and the video information or the play list information associatedwith both of the first tags and the second tags are independentlyeditable.